The barely-there fashion trend is any style of dressing that involves wearing see-through, sheer, or transparent clothing. Basically, any material that reveals a significant area of skin. The clothing can include plunging necklines, open-back designs, cutouts, and high slits in dresses or skirts. Popular fabrics used to create the barely-there effect include mesh, lace, and organza; as they create a see-through effect that gives the illusion of nudity while still covering the body.
With neutral colors like white, beige, nude, and black being popular choices for barely-there fashion; clothing style often features minimalist designs, with simple lines and embellishments as the focus is on revealing the wearer’s body.
The garments usually are either body-hugging or form-fitting silhouettes to accentuate the wearer’s curves. While some of these dresses feature only small patches that cover very private parts of the body, others bother not to have them. A good example is the dress worn by Naomi Campbell at the recent New York Fashion Week.
This trend has been popular for a few years now, and it is showing no signs of slowing down among daring fashionistas.
Although this is not typically the Nigerian culture, many celebrities are now embracing the barely-there look that is popular among foreign celebrities. Celebrities like Ka3na Jones, Tonto Dikeh, Osas Ighodaro, Kim Orpah, Tiwa Savage, and Ayra Starr are a few popular examples of Nigerian celebrities who rock this trend.
While some people embrace the barely-there trend as a form of self-expression, positive body image, and empowerment, many do not find it appealing to their personal style.
The barely-there fashion trend contradicts moral, cultural, and religious norms, prevalent among the majority of the Nigerian population, which is deeply rooted in both religious and cultural values.
In the end, in spite of modernization, a long-standing battle persists between embracing contemporary Western fashion trends, individual style preferences, and societal norms and acceptability.
